modern furniture

How to mix antiques with modern furniture

Author: Sue Madison

Just because you collect antiques doesn't mean you have to live in "Grandma's house." Home decor has come a long way, and can help bridge yesterday and today, but your antiques will shine in your home if you space plan correctly.

Space planning is the art of placing items to best accentuate your room. Talented interior designers and decorators know the importance of how the eye travels and the way people interpret a room as a whole. For instance, when you walk into a room, your eyes will always travel from left to right and then ceiling to floor.

Select a single antique to adorn a hallway or entryway. If you have a Bombay chest, a writing desk or a similar piece, this can be a great place to showcase it. Use home accessories to bring this piece into the 21st century by mounting stainless steel frames with simple lines on the wall above it, or by placing a glass vase on your beloved historic piece.

Mix two gilded gold-framed antique sitting chairs into your modern living room by placing them on one side and adding items from the same era on the other side of the room. Additionally, add the gilded gold as a finish in your space. Use it on framed art or perhaps add an accent table with a gilded gold top. As your eye travels around the room, you will visually connect your antiques in your modern space, and your room will just make sense. It's all about balance.

Perhaps you have an antique settee and you don't know what to do with it. First of all, if you really want to live with your antique get it reupholstered by a professional. If your seat cushion is sectioned, have it modernized with a single cushion. Use color to bring it up-to-date as well. Use pillows in a coordinating fabric in your room to help integrate your piece. If the finish on the frame is not in great condition, and cannot be restored, consider painting it a bright modern color, like magenta.

Of course, consult with an antique dealer before you modify anything that could permanently alter your piece. The goal is for your piece to integrate into your home's decor but keep it's integrity as much as possible. Whether you keep it in your family or sell it to the highest bidder at auction, your piece is a part of history.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/antiques-articles/how-to-mix-antiques-with-modern-furniture-5088454.html
About the Author

Sue Madison is an antiques collector and antiques restorer. She now focuses on her hobby of antique mailbox collection and of vintage mailbox restoration.

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Posted in: antiquas

decorating with antiques

Author: Sue Madison

When it comes to re-decorating the way your home looks there are many looks that can be achieved. A popular look is to give your room a makeover using collectibles and antiques from years gone by. Giving your room this type of makeover gives it a stylish and interesting look, so much so that your whole room can be livened up. However antiques can be costly but if you are a little savvy and know where to shop for antiques and collectibles you can grab yourself some great bargains.

One of the best places to find some collectibles at affordable prices is an antiques fair. Visiting an antiques fair such as the one held at Old Spitalfields market can be be very rewarding indeed. If you have a trained eye for antiques you will surely find something that is a collectible at a great price.

Here are some tips on how you should decorate using antiques.

Always group like objects together Whether your collection of antiques consists of classic antique teddy bears or you have a collection of rare pottery, it is always advisable to group similar objects together on a table, shelf or mantle piece. By arranging them this way you will create more of an impact on your guests as opposed to having them scattered about the room and your guests will actually realise you have not just thrown things together without thought. Always vary the size of the objects as this makes them more interesting to look at and will always be a focal point.

Try and recreate an era gone by If you are an avid collector of antiques and rare collectible items then trying to create an era in your room can be challenging but fun experience as it will show just how creative you are. If you want to create a Victorian look then picture a Victorian room and focus on creating that look and try and find items that fit with that time. You will find some great ideas on the internet, antiques magazines and general homes and garden magazines, some will even picture a room. Create the room on paper before setting out on filling the room with your antiques as if you don't get it right you just throw away the paper and start again - much easier than moving furniture around.

Something old, something new By mixing antiques and collectibles form an era gone by with antiques from modern day gives your room an individual look that will really stand out to your guests. To achieve this look try and find architectural antiques that look good, but anything old and unusual will work a treat. A great example is the use of family heirlooms that have been passed down.

Rotate your antiques and collectibles If your antiques collection contains rare and wonderful pieces and you don't have enough space in your room to display everything at the same time, then it is always worth rotating the antiques at least twice a year as this enables you to enjoy all of your antiques while at the same time changing the look of your living space. Spread them between two rooms and every six months change the look. This keeps your living space fresh all the time.

Decorating your homes with antiques and collectibles can give your room a great new look. By visiting an antiques fair you can find some great bargains on old antiques and collectibles. A great antiques market to visit is Old Spitalfileds Market in London where. Here you will find antique dealers from across the country with stalls of items they are looking to sell.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/antiques-articles/some-top-tips-for-decorating-your-home-with-antiques-5088458.html
About the Author

Sue Madison is an antiques collector and antiques restorer. She now focuses on her hobby of antique mailbox collection and of vintage mailbox restoration.

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Posted in: antiquas

birthday

Nutcracker - hard to find, hard to relinquish

Author: Barry Mcneil

Year after year it comes back – the birthday of my mother. Careless of how busy you are, careless of what else just occured to you, careless of any other matters, it just comes back to get you. It's not like I'm too much of a mothers guy but I gotta give this woman the respect she deserves – after all she raised my and had a real hard time trying to keep me off some stupid things. Plus I don't get see her too often anymore after I moved away for a new job since October.
So it's 2011, the birthday-horror came back – only 20 more days to go – and I start searching. What on gods green earth can I come up with this year?
- A plant? Nah, too boring, you could bring flowers or a plant anytime you pass by but not for her birthday...
- The newest album of her favorite singer? Nah, she doesn't use her CD-Player too often…
- A trip to some spa or so? Nah, she wouldn't go anyway.. all she does in her free time is sit at home, mostly in the garden and…
Boom – and then it came to me what would be the perfect present. Combining the ideas I had: A plant, nice music, a trip, a spa and sitting in the garden – why had I not seen this any earlier – what she needed was a Schwarzwald nutcracker! It was just so easy that I never saw it before. So how do I connect „plant-music-trip-spa-garden" with „schwarzwald nutcracker"? This  is actually quite easy: Around 3 years back we went on this great wellness-trip tot he beautiful schwarzwald in germany. The hotel was incredible – I would rather call it heaven than wellness – we were doing nothing but getting pampered all day long. There was this smooth background music in the whole hotel and there you have it. The last missing detail is the „nut-part". Every time my mom sits in her garden to relax, she eats these walnuts from a plastic-bag. I'm talking about the ones without the nutshell – so I asked her why she does not eat the fresh walnuts and her answer was: „Because I don't have a nutcracker.." So there you have it, I googled for a few minutes and found the perfect gift for her: A classical schwarzwald nutcracker. Awesome!
I called her a week later and asked her how she was getting along with her new nut-helper and she said that this was the best present she'd gotten in a long time. She's never wanna miss that thing again and additionally it reminds her oft he great time weh ad together in the beautiful black forrest.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/antiques-articles/nutcracker-hard-to-find-hard-to-relinquish-5114790.html
About the Author

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Posted in: antiquas